With the defeat of the strongest counselors, the underground finally began to lose that constant pressure of magic that had dominated the environment during the battles. The dispersed mana still lingered in the air, but it no longer carried the same intensity. Soldiers began advancing through the destroyed paths, collecting the bodies and isolating the affected areas. Some carried the defeated counselors still alive, following directly the orders that had been given.
'With this, I can erase that evidence.'
Leon observed for a brief moment before turning away. His body still showed clear signs of the battle—burns spread across his skin, cuts that had been forcefully closed, and exhaustion that now weighed more heavily as the fight had ended. Even so, his posture remained firm as he walked back toward the main hall.
[Steady posture like a noble who does not fall… really similar to Leon.]
'At least I'm better than before…'
As he moved through the partially destroyed corridors, his mind was no longer focused on the battle, but on control. Since taking over that body, every action had to be calculated, every reaction restrained. On the first day, his emotions had been more unstable, harder to control—but now there was progress. He could maintain Leon's posture more naturally, react with greater precision, and avoid mistakes that could raise suspicion.
'Even so, it's still not enough…'
The system remained silent for a few moments. She was somewhat concerned, as this body takeover seemed more difficult than it appeared in the original story. At least, it was more difficult for Enrico for some reason.
[You're adapting well, but there are still risks. The main one remains direct contact with the protagonist.]
Leon didn't respond immediately. He already knew that. Meeting her at that moment would be a problem—or at least that's what both he and the system believed, considering Leon's overwhelming obsession with her.
'Then before that… I'll deal with the rest.'
Eliminating the evidence was still a priority, and it could also help clear his mind and distance himself from that twisted mentality. Continuing forward, Leon soon found two knights waiting along the path. Surfien and Knigrave stood still, as if they already knew exactly when he would arrive. Neither of them showed surprise at seeing him standing after the confrontation. For them, that was expected.
"Everything went well, Lord Leon."
Leon simply nodded slightly before turning to his other knight. Knigrave didn't comment on the battle—he just crossed his arms briefly before speaking.
"Counselor Gine is alive, so I did my part too."
"That's right, sir. Bastião and Gina were captured. They are under control, as the prince ordered."
Leon kept his gaze forward as he continued walking, the two following behind. Neither of them would have bothered keeping the enemies alive if it weren't for Leon's direct order. For knights at that level, eliminating the opponent was always the safest option—especially when those enemies might hold evidence against their lord.
"Good work."
"Thank you, sir."
"I only did my job."
As they approached the main hall, the structure was already intact, protected, and isolated from the chaos that had taken place in the underground. Guards stood around the area, and upon recognizing Leon, they stepped aside without question. Inside, Crown Prince Alistair was already there, waiting. His posture was the same as always—controlled, observant, analyzing every detail without showing much emotion. Leon approached without excessive formality and took out a set of documents he had kept hidden.
"Primary evidence."
Alistair received the documents and immediately began analyzing them with narrowed eyes. They were records of communication between Reiligh and the enemy kingdom—exchanges of information dating back about three years, long before he had assumed his position on the council. The contents clearly showed patterns of communication, contact points, and strategic information being consistently passed along.
"He stopped sending messages when he entered the council…"
"That's because he couldn't risk raising suspicion. He likely sent one final message stating he would cut direct contact while gathering information."
Alistair continued analyzing, but something caught his attention. Some of the information was incomplete—especially the most recent parts, from the period when the war had begun. He frowned slightly, organizing his thoughts and preparing a question, trying to determine whether that was intentional or simply something not yet uncovered.
"Reiligh…"
Before he could speak, a voice emerged behind them. It wasn't loud, but it carried enough weight to completely change the atmosphere. It wasn't immediate anger, nor surprise—it was a tone filled with disappointment when speaking that name. Neither needed to turn to recognize that presence, and Alistair didn't either—they both knew exactly who had spoken.
The man stepped forward. His gaze was fixed on the documents in Alistair's hands, analyzing what no longer needed explanation. His expression remained controlled, but something behind it was unmistakable.
"I didn't think he would be a spy."
His voice remained steady, without sharp changes, but the meaning was clear. It wasn't just any counselor who had betrayed the kingdom—it was someone he himself had chosen, someone he had trusted and allowed to rise within the court. It was that decision that opened the path for Reiligh to reach that position. The king of the kingdom, Selibirt Ravenswood, and father of Alistair.
"Good work, Leon."
His eyes shifted toward the one who had revealed that truth. It was reassuring that his son had someone so loyal by his side, and it gave him confidence for the future, knowing Alistair would have a strong companion when he ascended the throne. He stepped closer to the documents and began analyzing them alongside his son, while Leon simply observed.
'Very well… now which evidence will I eliminate next?'
Thinking about it, it might be better to eliminate his biological family before they gather more evidence—but after reconsidering, he decided to stick to his original plan. He would eliminate the evidence first and leave his biological family for last. As he thought this way, his heart seemed to beat with satisfaction once again, making Leon let out an annoyed breath.
'You really are disgusting, Leon.'